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Awards

The Virginia Press Association also hands out eight awards to recognize outstanding journalists and sales people; recognize/honor newspapers staffers for lifetime achievement or 50-plus years or service; and defenders of the First Amendment. Criteria for the awards.

Criteria for the awards and nomination forms can be found on the following pages.

Awards Resources

The Virginian of the Year Award is presented by VPA each year to honor a native Virginian who has excelled in certain fields. Over the years, those fields have covered politics, entertainment, education and research.

Since 1967 (except for one year), VPA has presented its Virginian of the Year Award for outstanding community service. Most recipients have been cited for public service or celebrity. In 2010, VPA directors voted to expand the nominating process and encourage members to participate.

The Virginia Press Association First Amendment Award, first presented in 2007, is given to journalists, newspapers or citizens who, in an extraordinary way, seek to advance, defend or preserve the First Amendment.

The criteria is broad. It would include those who challenge closed government, closed courtrooms, access to information or threats to press freedom, such as search warrants and subpoenas. It could recognize extraordinary educational efforts, including First Amendment training, and efforts to change or strengthen laws pertaining to the First Amendment.

The VPA Golden 50 Club is an "honor roll" of individuals who have spent a minimum of 50 years in the newspaper industry. Nominations are solicited from among the membership, and those honorees (and guests) are invited to attend the induction ceremony during the VPA's annual Advertising and News Conference.

Virginia Press Association seeks to recognize exceptional young journalists in Virginia by presenting the VPA Outstanding Young Journalist Award.

Winners of this award will have demonstrated excellence in the field of journalism and maintained high standards of quality and ethics. The award aims to reinforce the importance of a journalist’s role by recognizing and nurturing talent to promote quality journalism.

Winners of this award will have demonstrated excellence in the field of journalism and maintained high standards of quality and ethics. The award aims to reinforce the importance of a journalist’s role by recognizing and nurturing talent to promote quality journalism.

The VPA Outstanding Young Sales Professional of the Year Award allows you to celebrate the qualities, traits and skills that are a part of your best sales professional team member. The winners will be considered role models whose qualities have led to great success in the newspaper/online advertising profession. It’s a great way to recognize a shining star!